Zahner Launches Software for Design and Fabrication

Original design by Crawford Architects on the Zahner Headquarters in North America / Mike Sinclair. Image Courtesy of Zahner

Zahner, one of the world's foremost fabricators of façades, have launched new software to assist in design, fabrication, costing and delivery. CloudWall, part of Zahner's ShopFloor platform, is a web based programme which provides an interface for users to design and fabricate curving facades in metal. It is a tool that uses Zahner's "factory floor like a massive rapid prototype machine".

Detail photograph of the Zahner Headquarters CloudWall™ is based on / Mike Sinclair /. Image Courtesy of Zahner

The programme has been developed from Zahner's undulating façade at their factory in Kansas City. According to Zahner, "the cost of building the Zahner Headquarters in Kansas City was upwards of several hundred thousand dollars" yet "similar designs created with the CloudWall software can be fabricated and shipped for a fraction of that price." As the user makes changes (such as size, colour and material finish) the costs update in real time. Once the design is complete Zahner can produce the parts, crate the assemblies and ship them to site.

Designers can export and download a 3D Model of their design. Image Courtesy of Zahner

According to the company "the CloudWall tool is one of several being released over the next few months. Purchases made with ShopFloor include the price of engineering, fabricating, and shipping the assemblies" but "does not currently include an option for installation of the parts."